Gary Clyde Hufbauer and Yee Wong presented the key findings of their new Policy Brief entitled "Logistics Reform for Low-Value Shipments" at a Peterson Institute event held June 15, 2011. Low-value shipments are a little known but increasingly important component of international trade and are closely linked to the rapid growth in electronic commerce.

The authors argue that the United States should raise the de minimis threshold from the current level of $200 to a higher level of $800 and make other changes in customs regulations that now obstruct low-value shipments. Their Policy Brief urges other APEC member countries to undertake similar reforms—a topic that was recently discussed at the APEC meeting in Big Sky, Montana.